Then there were Three
By: RedLady
This story is dedicated to three people...(Hence the name. J/K.)
First of all there is *Warblade* my number one lucky fan! (Here's a story dedicated to you!
Even though it is not a funny one I hope you like it!)
Then there is *Chazbone* who put me into his own story. (Happy belated birthday! Hope you
don't mind the "joint" dedication.)
And last of all there is *BeserkRage* who trusted me when he needed help. (Hey look it is
about Amazons! Whenever I think of Amazons I think of that story you wrote. He he.)
Author's Note: I had been debating on putting this up on fanfiction. Because I didn't memorize
the manual and strategy guide and don't feel as if I am an accurate historian of the Sanctuary
world... (I haven't even played Diablo 1!) So I think it is safe to say that this is an alternate
universe as opposed to the real universe of Diablo 1 and 2. It is a couple generations after the
second game though. And I realize that there will be a lot of questions in the beginning. But if
you stick to the story and read, I will try and answer them all. This is one of my first attempts at
a serious story. So here goes...
: )
Many years ago the Lord of Terror was released into the world of Sanctuary. Some time after
that it is know that Diablo released his two brothers from their soul stones. It is strange that
there were simply three Prime Evils. And then there were three hero's who would take the fate
of the world into their hands...
___________________Prologue___________________
She looked at her students sighing. She was one of the last great teachers. The old traditions
were forgotten and she tried in vain to keep them alive. Yet the younger generations saw the
change around them and were not content with the old ways. So new ways were invented and
the old forgotten. She was old and the only one who remembered the past. And she would try to
teach it to her students.
Nevora waited calmly as the students settled down. She would not tell them if they were not
willing to hear. She eyed one student above the rest. Elsafira, an orphan child whom was a little
older than the others. The clan had taken her in and would teach her their ways. The ways of
the Amazons. Yet she wondered if it was a mistake. . .
Finally the young girls were ready to listen. She got ready to speak. But she couldn't tell them
right out what she meant to say. She decided to test them of their knowledge.
"How many Prime Evils were there?" She asked her voice clear and strong.
The girls murmured wondering at the seemingly simple question.
"Three!" Helena yelled out.
"Yes three!" Pepita agreed.
The rest nodded including Elsafira.
"And how many heroes stood out among the rest when Diablo first emerged from Hell?" She
continued.
This the young girls pondered not sure. They went through the foreign names in their head.
"There was only one who defeated him, the Dark Wanderer." Terasha thought out loud.
"But there were five wasn't there?" Helena argued.
"I thought there was seven!" Pepita added.
Finally Elsafira yelled, "Three!"
Nevora gazed at the girl thoughtfully. She couldn't tell what the girl was thinking. The young
girl seemed so innocent yet serious at the same time. Nevora nodded.
"Yes. Everything seems to happen in threes. Remember that. Three is a very evil number . . ."
______________________________________________________________________________
"But it is just a number!" She had argued. Nevora remembered the passionate argument Elsafira
had put on that day. She knew not the ways of an Amazon and thought in a different way than
the other young Amazons. She was taught the Amazon ways, yet would never fully be a true
Amazon. She had long pasted the age of influential childhood and had already been imprinted
by whatever truths her parents had taught her.
She had never talked about her parents. She seemed to accept the fact that they had died. Even
Nevora did not know. Yet nobody worried because she excelled in the Amazon arts and quickly
became a great archer and handled the javelin with grace. She memorized all the Amazon songs
and dances. She could quote the poems of the gods and goddesses without taking a second
thought. But for some reason Elsafira never seemed to be happy. She always wandered off alone
on their island.
_____________________________________________________________________
"And now you die!" Dracos yelled. He swung his sword toward the oversized red demon! The
death blow robbed whatever life was left from its victim..
"What should we do with this?" His servant said holding up the soul stone.
"I'd rather like to keep it..." Dracos said darkly. "To remind me of my victory over the Great
Prime evil, Diablo..."
He took the soul stone and a rope. Tying a knot around the cold stone he set it around his neck.
His servant Braft stared at him wearily.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?"
"No. But what the hell? I've killed Diablo already. What other harm can he do?"
Braft studied him and saw that he was serious. "There are worse things than death..." He
muttered.
"Yeah." Dracos agreed. And sheiffed his sword. "Like life..."
_______________The Olympius Festival___________________________________
They all stared as a Rogue walked off the boat.
"Why is a Rogue here?" Terasha said disgustedly.
"The Rogues are our sisters..." Pepita argued
"But they are the ones who got attacked during the Prime evil wars..." Elsafira added.
The tall Amazon Terasha smiled smuggly glad that she had someone on her side.
"Even so..." Pepita said. "We have to be nice to them because they follow some of our same
codes."
"Yet they believe in the Sacred Eye..." Elsafira mumbled.
"Miserable wenches..." Terasha mumbled under her breath.
The Rogue was led to the islands council of elders. Nevora was on that council. The council and
the Rogue met all day privately in their tents.
______________________________________________________________________________
No one knew what the council was about. But the next day a festival was called.
"Elsa! Elsa!" Pepita called. Elsafira was studying a manuscript when Pepita found her. She
jumped up and down excitably.
"What is it Pepita?" Elsafira said confused. "We have to get ready for the Olympius Festival!"
She said excitably.
"Why? It will not occur till within a year."
"The council have decided to have it early."
"Is that what they spent all day talking about?" Elsafira said confused.
"Who cares!" Pepita said excitably. "Because I am finally of age to compete! I gotta go practice
my javelin throwing!" And with that Pepita ran out of the house.
______________________________________________________________________________
The games for the Olympius Festival were ready a week later. Amazons from all over the island
of Lycander traveled to the eastern capital of Heracles. Elsafira felt as if she were ready. It was
the first festival she and her friends were allowed to compete in.
The Olympius festival was comprised of three main sections. The physical competitions such as
running, javelin throwing, and archery; the mental competitions which tested on the person's
knowledge of Amazon history and mythology; and finally a final section labeled the Fine Arts
competition which was more of a talent show than anything else. It comprised of dancing,
singing, and acting. This competition was held at the end of the festival and was more for fun
than real competing.
Elsafira and her friends were the only people from her village who were going to compete.
There was her, the tall orange haired, green-eyed girl who was pretty good in all the areas of
competition. There was Pepita the small girl with dirty-blond hair who was the best in knowing
about the history of the Amazons, but was also pretty well at running and javelin. Then there
was Terasha the muscular feisty tall blond who was good at anything physical. And finally there
was Helena the medium sized golden blond, who was exceptionally good in the fine arts area,
but also mythology and some physical activities.
They all decided to stay in the same huge tent outside the city of Heracles. Nevora had wished
them luck and had donated the big tent for them to stay in since the inns would probably all be
full. Lately it seemed that Nevora was giving Elsafira strange looks. And then she remembered
that ever since the elder had taken her in she had always stared at her so.
"Tomorrow will be so fun!" Pepita said excitably when they had all settle in the big tent. "I
heard that the festival will start out with a bang and they will shoot off fireworks brought here
specifically from the mainland, West of our Island!"
"That's all very nice and all. But be quiet and go to sleep." Terasha said annoyed.
"Oh, don't you know how to have fun!" Helena argued. "I can't wait to see the plays! Do you
know they are having plays this year? And I may be able to get up on stage and act. Wouldn't it
be fun to see me act?"
"We can't do anything if we don't sleep..." Terasha argued.
"Yes, let us rest." Elsafira agreed.
Helena just sighed and the four girls snuggled into her sleeping bag anticipating the next day.
___________________Trip to Tristram______________________________
"I've decided what we are going to do, Braft." Dracos said as they sat around the fire. His
servant looked up at him from the spot where he lay.
"We are going to go to Tristram."
"But whatever for?" His servant asked afraid. "It was destroyed ages ago. There will be nothing
left of the town."
"That is why I want to go." Dracos continued. "Most people don't know about Diablo... not the
true Diablo. I want to go where it all started."
"But master!" Braft argued. Dracos held his hand up for silence.
"The decision is final. If you do not wish to go then you may leave..."
"I could never leave you Dracos. You know that. I just think that it would be wise to steer clear
of the town of Tristram because..."
"I WILL GO!!!" Dracos yelled at the man. Braft looked at him fearfully. His master seemed to
have grown taller and did he see the soul stone glowing?
He cringed back. Perhaps he should have left his master. But he couldn't. Something was
keeping him there. Too bad he didn't know the pain he would soon be in. Even if he did know,
Braft would probably still have stayed by his master's side.
____________________The Archery Competition______________________________
"And now introducing the archery competition!" An older Amazon called throughout the
amphitheater. "Amazons! Take your places!"
"Are you ready Elsa?" Pepita said nervously.
"Yeah! What number are you?" She asked equally as nervous.
"I've been assigned to the tenth target." She said looking over at the tenth line of Amazon's in
front of an archery target over 200 yards away. "What about you?"
"I'm on the second one." She said looking for her line. "And Terasha's in the first one. Imagine
that?"
"Did Helena decide to come?" Pepita asked.
"No. You know she isn't too good at archery..."
"Yeah, I guess not. I just hope one of us wins the finals. Wouldn't that bring our town honor?"
"Girls, to your places." A large woman interrupted their conversation and they went into their
assigned lines.
"Good luck..." Pepita mouthed and was lost in the crowd.
The archery competition consisted of many Amazons from throughout the islands. The finalist
would each get points. The object of the Olympius Festival was to receive the most points in
each competition you competed in. Then the top finalist would compete with each other and the
number one finalist would become Queen of the Olympius Festival.
The archery competition lasted most of the day. Their were many competitors throughout the
island because; after all, archery was one of the Amazon's best sport. Most of the girls were at
least able to hit the target, those who missed were terminated from the competition immediately.
Elsafira felt sorry for those girls who walked out of the amphitheater, holding their heads down
in shame.
Their were ten lines, lined up in front of ten targets. In the beginning, the lines stretched almost
outside the amphitheater. And then ten girls from each line were lined up in rows before their
assigned target. Terasha went before Elsafira, not because she was in line number one, but
because she was nearer the front of her line than Elsafira.
Elsafira held her breath as Terasha began to shoot. But she shouldn't have worried because
Terasha was more than able. When Elsafira's turn came she almost froze worried that maybe she
would accidently miss the target and be one of those girls who walked out of the amphitheater in
shame. She let her arrow go flying and heard the satisfying thunk as it hit the target in the bull's
eye. She rooted for Pepita when her turn came. Pepita hit the target but not the bulls eye. But
the first round was only meant to pull out those who couldn't hit the target at all.
The second round was more challenging. You had to hit your arrow in one of the two rings
outside of the bull's eye. Many people just barely made it while others just barely lost. But after
the second round Terasha, Elsafira, and Pepita were still in.
The third round was narrowed to having to hit the first ring or the bulls eye. Many more people
were cut from this competition, but still many remained. Elsafira held her breath as they
measured her arrow. She had just barely made it inside the first ring. She scolded herself, but
got the thumbs up sign from Pepita.
Pepita ended up getting cut from the third round. She walked passed Elsafira in her line. "I'm
sorry Pepita..." Elsafira mumbled.
Pepita smiled and answered, "Don't be..."
Finally the fourth round consisted of hitting the bulls eye and not outside. The lines were
bunched into one now and they all stood in front of one target waiting for their turn. Terasha
winked at Elsafira as she walked up to the spot. Her arrow flew and indeed hit the bull's eye as
it did all the other times.
When Elsafira's time came she was sweating. But she heard her instructor's words in her head.
"When shooting an arrow, you must block out all distractions. Become the arrow. Make it go
where you want it to go." Nevora's voice rang in her head. She was annoyed because she had
never heard of "becoming the arrow", but closed her eyes and immediately everything was shut
out.
People where shouting and cheering in the seats of the amphitheater but Elsafira didn't notice.
She stared at the target and imagined that she was only 5 feet away from it. Then she let her
arrow fly. And as if she were riding the arrow she watched in zoom toward the bulls eye and
embed itself into the center of the target.
Cheering brought her back to reality. She looked around and walked to the line which held the
rest of the Amazon's which would go to the final round. Terasha gave her a high five, but was
confused to see Elsafira's look of shock. What had just happened to her? Had she really
"become" the arrow?
Elsafira wasn't really paying attention to the final round of the archery competition. She was
slightly aware of Terasha passing! The final round consisted of having to shoot the arrow
exactly in the bull's eye. A little black dot was drawn inside the bulls eye. You had to hit that in
order to pass. Elsafira didn't come out of her little trance until it was her turn. This time the
crowd was silent. Only the occasional murmur was heard from the crowd.
Elsafira wasn't aware of what she was doing as she inserted the arrow into her bow and pulled
back the string. She felt the sting of her muscles as she held her bow perfectly still for a long
time. Again she imagined the bull's eye only ten feet away from her. She saw the little black
spot that defiled the red paint of the bulls eye.
She hated that black spot.
But why?
She would cover up the black spot. It would defile the bull's eye no longer!
But what was she talking about? True, she had to hit the black spot in order to pass, but why did
she hate it.
She hated it!
But it was just a spot.
It would be eliminated. And before she could argue she let go of the string and her arrow flew
toward the horrible black spot.
It was as if she was willing the arrow to go where it must. It was slightly off course, she knew it.
"Please go toward the left!" She whispered. The wind blew. "Do not let the wind alter your
course!" She whispered.
And before the arrow hit the black mark, she knew that it would. The arrow was examined and
she was announced as one of the finalist. Terasha shook her hand proudly while patting her on
the back, but still Elsafira seemed unaware.
Nevora watched from the stands. "And so it begin's my child..." She said under her breath sadly.
"And so it begins."
_______________________________________________________________________
And I'd say that about wraps it up for today folks! How was it? I know it might be a little rushed
but I don't want this to be too big of a story. Have fun and I hope you enjoy.
: )
By: RedLady
This story is dedicated to three people...(Hence the name. J/K.)
First of all there is *Warblade* my number one lucky fan! (Here's a story dedicated to you!
Even though it is not a funny one I hope you like it!)
Then there is *Chazbone* who put me into his own story. (Happy belated birthday! Hope you
don't mind the "joint" dedication.)
And last of all there is *BeserkRage* who trusted me when he needed help. (Hey look it is
about Amazons! Whenever I think of Amazons I think of that story you wrote. He he.)
Author's Note: I had been debating on putting this up on fanfiction. Because I didn't memorize
the manual and strategy guide and don't feel as if I am an accurate historian of the Sanctuary
world... (I haven't even played Diablo 1!) So I think it is safe to say that this is an alternate
universe as opposed to the real universe of Diablo 1 and 2. It is a couple generations after the
second game though. And I realize that there will be a lot of questions in the beginning. But if
you stick to the story and read, I will try and answer them all. This is one of my first attempts at
a serious story. So here goes...
: )
Many years ago the Lord of Terror was released into the world of Sanctuary. Some time after
that it is know that Diablo released his two brothers from their soul stones. It is strange that
there were simply three Prime Evils. And then there were three hero's who would take the fate
of the world into their hands...
___________________Prologue___________________
She looked at her students sighing. She was one of the last great teachers. The old traditions
were forgotten and she tried in vain to keep them alive. Yet the younger generations saw the
change around them and were not content with the old ways. So new ways were invented and
the old forgotten. She was old and the only one who remembered the past. And she would try to
teach it to her students.
Nevora waited calmly as the students settled down. She would not tell them if they were not
willing to hear. She eyed one student above the rest. Elsafira, an orphan child whom was a little
older than the others. The clan had taken her in and would teach her their ways. The ways of
the Amazons. Yet she wondered if it was a mistake. . .
Finally the young girls were ready to listen. She got ready to speak. But she couldn't tell them
right out what she meant to say. She decided to test them of their knowledge.
"How many Prime Evils were there?" She asked her voice clear and strong.
The girls murmured wondering at the seemingly simple question.
"Three!" Helena yelled out.
"Yes three!" Pepita agreed.
The rest nodded including Elsafira.
"And how many heroes stood out among the rest when Diablo first emerged from Hell?" She
continued.
This the young girls pondered not sure. They went through the foreign names in their head.
"There was only one who defeated him, the Dark Wanderer." Terasha thought out loud.
"But there were five wasn't there?" Helena argued.
"I thought there was seven!" Pepita added.
Finally Elsafira yelled, "Three!"
Nevora gazed at the girl thoughtfully. She couldn't tell what the girl was thinking. The young
girl seemed so innocent yet serious at the same time. Nevora nodded.
"Yes. Everything seems to happen in threes. Remember that. Three is a very evil number . . ."
______________________________________________________________________________
"But it is just a number!" She had argued. Nevora remembered the passionate argument Elsafira
had put on that day. She knew not the ways of an Amazon and thought in a different way than
the other young Amazons. She was taught the Amazon ways, yet would never fully be a true
Amazon. She had long pasted the age of influential childhood and had already been imprinted
by whatever truths her parents had taught her.
She had never talked about her parents. She seemed to accept the fact that they had died. Even
Nevora did not know. Yet nobody worried because she excelled in the Amazon arts and quickly
became a great archer and handled the javelin with grace. She memorized all the Amazon songs
and dances. She could quote the poems of the gods and goddesses without taking a second
thought. But for some reason Elsafira never seemed to be happy. She always wandered off alone
on their island.
_____________________________________________________________________
"And now you die!" Dracos yelled. He swung his sword toward the oversized red demon! The
death blow robbed whatever life was left from its victim..
"What should we do with this?" His servant said holding up the soul stone.
"I'd rather like to keep it..." Dracos said darkly. "To remind me of my victory over the Great
Prime evil, Diablo..."
He took the soul stone and a rope. Tying a knot around the cold stone he set it around his neck.
His servant Braft stared at him wearily.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?"
"No. But what the hell? I've killed Diablo already. What other harm can he do?"
Braft studied him and saw that he was serious. "There are worse things than death..." He
muttered.
"Yeah." Dracos agreed. And sheiffed his sword. "Like life..."
_______________The Olympius Festival___________________________________
They all stared as a Rogue walked off the boat.
"Why is a Rogue here?" Terasha said disgustedly.
"The Rogues are our sisters..." Pepita argued
"But they are the ones who got attacked during the Prime evil wars..." Elsafira added.
The tall Amazon Terasha smiled smuggly glad that she had someone on her side.
"Even so..." Pepita said. "We have to be nice to them because they follow some of our same
codes."
"Yet they believe in the Sacred Eye..." Elsafira mumbled.
"Miserable wenches..." Terasha mumbled under her breath.
The Rogue was led to the islands council of elders. Nevora was on that council. The council and
the Rogue met all day privately in their tents.
______________________________________________________________________________
No one knew what the council was about. But the next day a festival was called.
"Elsa! Elsa!" Pepita called. Elsafira was studying a manuscript when Pepita found her. She
jumped up and down excitably.
"What is it Pepita?" Elsafira said confused. "We have to get ready for the Olympius Festival!"
She said excitably.
"Why? It will not occur till within a year."
"The council have decided to have it early."
"Is that what they spent all day talking about?" Elsafira said confused.
"Who cares!" Pepita said excitably. "Because I am finally of age to compete! I gotta go practice
my javelin throwing!" And with that Pepita ran out of the house.
______________________________________________________________________________
The games for the Olympius Festival were ready a week later. Amazons from all over the island
of Lycander traveled to the eastern capital of Heracles. Elsafira felt as if she were ready. It was
the first festival she and her friends were allowed to compete in.
The Olympius festival was comprised of three main sections. The physical competitions such as
running, javelin throwing, and archery; the mental competitions which tested on the person's
knowledge of Amazon history and mythology; and finally a final section labeled the Fine Arts
competition which was more of a talent show than anything else. It comprised of dancing,
singing, and acting. This competition was held at the end of the festival and was more for fun
than real competing.
Elsafira and her friends were the only people from her village who were going to compete.
There was her, the tall orange haired, green-eyed girl who was pretty good in all the areas of
competition. There was Pepita the small girl with dirty-blond hair who was the best in knowing
about the history of the Amazons, but was also pretty well at running and javelin. Then there
was Terasha the muscular feisty tall blond who was good at anything physical. And finally there
was Helena the medium sized golden blond, who was exceptionally good in the fine arts area,
but also mythology and some physical activities.
They all decided to stay in the same huge tent outside the city of Heracles. Nevora had wished
them luck and had donated the big tent for them to stay in since the inns would probably all be
full. Lately it seemed that Nevora was giving Elsafira strange looks. And then she remembered
that ever since the elder had taken her in she had always stared at her so.
"Tomorrow will be so fun!" Pepita said excitably when they had all settle in the big tent. "I
heard that the festival will start out with a bang and they will shoot off fireworks brought here
specifically from the mainland, West of our Island!"
"That's all very nice and all. But be quiet and go to sleep." Terasha said annoyed.
"Oh, don't you know how to have fun!" Helena argued. "I can't wait to see the plays! Do you
know they are having plays this year? And I may be able to get up on stage and act. Wouldn't it
be fun to see me act?"
"We can't do anything if we don't sleep..." Terasha argued.
"Yes, let us rest." Elsafira agreed.
Helena just sighed and the four girls snuggled into her sleeping bag anticipating the next day.
___________________Trip to Tristram______________________________
"I've decided what we are going to do, Braft." Dracos said as they sat around the fire. His
servant looked up at him from the spot where he lay.
"We are going to go to Tristram."
"But whatever for?" His servant asked afraid. "It was destroyed ages ago. There will be nothing
left of the town."
"That is why I want to go." Dracos continued. "Most people don't know about Diablo... not the
true Diablo. I want to go where it all started."
"But master!" Braft argued. Dracos held his hand up for silence.
"The decision is final. If you do not wish to go then you may leave..."
"I could never leave you Dracos. You know that. I just think that it would be wise to steer clear
of the town of Tristram because..."
"I WILL GO!!!" Dracos yelled at the man. Braft looked at him fearfully. His master seemed to
have grown taller and did he see the soul stone glowing?
He cringed back. Perhaps he should have left his master. But he couldn't. Something was
keeping him there. Too bad he didn't know the pain he would soon be in. Even if he did know,
Braft would probably still have stayed by his master's side.
____________________The Archery Competition______________________________
"And now introducing the archery competition!" An older Amazon called throughout the
amphitheater. "Amazons! Take your places!"
"Are you ready Elsa?" Pepita said nervously.
"Yeah! What number are you?" She asked equally as nervous.
"I've been assigned to the tenth target." She said looking over at the tenth line of Amazon's in
front of an archery target over 200 yards away. "What about you?"
"I'm on the second one." She said looking for her line. "And Terasha's in the first one. Imagine
that?"
"Did Helena decide to come?" Pepita asked.
"No. You know she isn't too good at archery..."
"Yeah, I guess not. I just hope one of us wins the finals. Wouldn't that bring our town honor?"
"Girls, to your places." A large woman interrupted their conversation and they went into their
assigned lines.
"Good luck..." Pepita mouthed and was lost in the crowd.
The archery competition consisted of many Amazons from throughout the islands. The finalist
would each get points. The object of the Olympius Festival was to receive the most points in
each competition you competed in. Then the top finalist would compete with each other and the
number one finalist would become Queen of the Olympius Festival.
The archery competition lasted most of the day. Their were many competitors throughout the
island because; after all, archery was one of the Amazon's best sport. Most of the girls were at
least able to hit the target, those who missed were terminated from the competition immediately.
Elsafira felt sorry for those girls who walked out of the amphitheater, holding their heads down
in shame.
Their were ten lines, lined up in front of ten targets. In the beginning, the lines stretched almost
outside the amphitheater. And then ten girls from each line were lined up in rows before their
assigned target. Terasha went before Elsafira, not because she was in line number one, but
because she was nearer the front of her line than Elsafira.
Elsafira held her breath as Terasha began to shoot. But she shouldn't have worried because
Terasha was more than able. When Elsafira's turn came she almost froze worried that maybe she
would accidently miss the target and be one of those girls who walked out of the amphitheater in
shame. She let her arrow go flying and heard the satisfying thunk as it hit the target in the bull's
eye. She rooted for Pepita when her turn came. Pepita hit the target but not the bulls eye. But
the first round was only meant to pull out those who couldn't hit the target at all.
The second round was more challenging. You had to hit your arrow in one of the two rings
outside of the bull's eye. Many people just barely made it while others just barely lost. But after
the second round Terasha, Elsafira, and Pepita were still in.
The third round was narrowed to having to hit the first ring or the bulls eye. Many more people
were cut from this competition, but still many remained. Elsafira held her breath as they
measured her arrow. She had just barely made it inside the first ring. She scolded herself, but
got the thumbs up sign from Pepita.
Pepita ended up getting cut from the third round. She walked passed Elsafira in her line. "I'm
sorry Pepita..." Elsafira mumbled.
Pepita smiled and answered, "Don't be..."
Finally the fourth round consisted of hitting the bulls eye and not outside. The lines were
bunched into one now and they all stood in front of one target waiting for their turn. Terasha
winked at Elsafira as she walked up to the spot. Her arrow flew and indeed hit the bull's eye as
it did all the other times.
When Elsafira's time came she was sweating. But she heard her instructor's words in her head.
"When shooting an arrow, you must block out all distractions. Become the arrow. Make it go
where you want it to go." Nevora's voice rang in her head. She was annoyed because she had
never heard of "becoming the arrow", but closed her eyes and immediately everything was shut
out.
People where shouting and cheering in the seats of the amphitheater but Elsafira didn't notice.
She stared at the target and imagined that she was only 5 feet away from it. Then she let her
arrow fly. And as if she were riding the arrow she watched in zoom toward the bulls eye and
embed itself into the center of the target.
Cheering brought her back to reality. She looked around and walked to the line which held the
rest of the Amazon's which would go to the final round. Terasha gave her a high five, but was
confused to see Elsafira's look of shock. What had just happened to her? Had she really
"become" the arrow?
Elsafira wasn't really paying attention to the final round of the archery competition. She was
slightly aware of Terasha passing! The final round consisted of having to shoot the arrow
exactly in the bull's eye. A little black dot was drawn inside the bulls eye. You had to hit that in
order to pass. Elsafira didn't come out of her little trance until it was her turn. This time the
crowd was silent. Only the occasional murmur was heard from the crowd.
Elsafira wasn't aware of what she was doing as she inserted the arrow into her bow and pulled
back the string. She felt the sting of her muscles as she held her bow perfectly still for a long
time. Again she imagined the bull's eye only ten feet away from her. She saw the little black
spot that defiled the red paint of the bulls eye.
She hated that black spot.
But why?
She would cover up the black spot. It would defile the bull's eye no longer!
But what was she talking about? True, she had to hit the black spot in order to pass, but why did
she hate it.
She hated it!
But it was just a spot.
It would be eliminated. And before she could argue she let go of the string and her arrow flew
toward the horrible black spot.
It was as if she was willing the arrow to go where it must. It was slightly off course, she knew it.
"Please go toward the left!" She whispered. The wind blew. "Do not let the wind alter your
course!" She whispered.
And before the arrow hit the black mark, she knew that it would. The arrow was examined and
she was announced as one of the finalist. Terasha shook her hand proudly while patting her on
the back, but still Elsafira seemed unaware.
Nevora watched from the stands. "And so it begin's my child..." She said under her breath sadly.
"And so it begins."
_______________________________________________________________________
And I'd say that about wraps it up for today folks! How was it? I know it might be a little rushed
but I don't want this to be too big of a story. Have fun and I hope you enjoy.
: )